Written by Mary Lou Shuster, Certified Literacy Specialist, Buxton Center Elementary School (retired)

The Title One program in elementary schools today is different than years ago. We try to narrow down several targets or elements of literacy that each student is being challenged by and help overcome those challenges so they can exit our services more quickly and be returned to their classrooms. It is not our intent to keep students in Title One services the entire year. It is our biggest hope that we can help them learn some useful strategies that can carry back into the classroom in order for them to be successful without us.

Parents often ask what they can do to help at home and this can often be specific to the ages and stages of your child. But the one thing that will never change, not matter what the age of your child, is the need to read with and to your children. Nothing can replace this time put aside to spend with your child. There will always be a book that is a bit too hard for your child to comprehend, no matter what the age, but with your guidance through a read aloud together, will be something that will be incredibly worthwhile for you both.

If you are on Twitter, you can follow authors, librarians and book lovers such as myself, @litcoachlou, to listen in on the discussion and titles of the newest books to hit the shelves.

Reading Rockets is a fabulous website and one where you can find just about anything concerning reading and literacy. I am linking to their information on Reading Aloud and its importance including some videos, links to other strategies and literacy blogs. This is a website to bookmark!

• http://www.readingrockets.org/